Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman has managed to re-stock prospect pool that had been nearly completely barren upon his arrival back to the franchise in April 2019.
Not only has Yzerman been known for his savvy drafting, but also willingness to take flyers on players who went un-drafted.
One such player is goaltender Michal Postava, who was recently inked to a two-year, entry-level contract by the Red Wings and now represents the latest intriguing figure in Detroit's goalie prospect pool which already includes Sebastian Cossa and Trey Augustine.
UPDATE: The #RedWings have signed goaltender Michal Postava to a two-year, entry-level contract. pic.twitter.com/G8DFWZ0Z8t
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) June 11, 2025
Postava, who originally hails from Valasske Mezirici, Czechia, understandably has an affinity for Czech-born goaltenders.
Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features.
“I’m a big fan of all the Czech goalies who played in the NHL,” Postava said as originally reported by Bob Duff of Detroit Hockey Now. “(Dominik) Hasek was among the first ones I watched. Petr Mrazek is one of them, as well as a lot of other guys.”
Hasek spent three separate stints during his Hall of Fame NHL career with the Red Wings, the first and third of which resulted in him lifting the Stanley Cup and shortly announcing his retirement from the NHL afterward.
Mrazek has now played two stints with Detroit, the second of which lasted only a few months after being re-acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks in March. In late June, the Red Wings traded him to the Anaheim Ducks as part of the deal to acquire John Gibson.
Before Mrazek's trade to the Ducks, he briefly spent some time with Postava at the Red Wings' annual Development Camp at Little Caesars Arena.
"Yeah, we were talking maybe three days before he got traded,” Postava said. “So he was welcoming me and telling me to be proud and try hard every day.”
Not only is it a prideful thing to be signed by an NHL club, but Postava would love to be Detroit's next great Czech goaltender.
"I’m enjoying every moment, and I’m proud to be a part of this organization," he said.
“There have always been a lot of Czechs here, and they are still active in the organization," he continued. "Plus, it’s a big club from the Original Six. It’s a huge opportunity for me."
Speaking of Czechs who are still in the organization, former Red Wings defenseman Jiri Fischer, who had his career come to a frightening end in November 2005 with a near-fatal cardiac event at Joe Louis Arena, currently serves as Detroit's Director of Player Evaluation and gave Postava the inside scoop.
“I talked to Jiri Fisher, and he was telling me like, everywhere what happens and everything that was done here,” Postava said. “He helped me a lot to get here.”
Postava played in 42 games last season for HC Kometa Brno in the Czech Extraliga, and amassed a record of 23-18-0 with an impressive .921 save percentage and three shutouts.
He'll be a participant in Training Camp for the Red Wings next month, and could see playing time in the American Hockey League with the Grand Rapids Griffins.
Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!
